Heel for boots or shoes



Dec. 19, 1922. 1,439,547.

J. E. GROSIEAN.

HEEL FOR BOOTS 0R SHOES.

FILED ocT.18.1920. 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented Dec. 19, F922.

NETE

JAMES E. GROSJEAN, OE LIMA, OHIO.

HEEL FOR BOOTS OR SHOES.

l To all whom t may concern-.i

Be it known that I, Jawat` E. GRosJEAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lima, in the county of Allen and State of Ohio,` have invented new and useful Improvements in Heels for Boots and Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in heels for boots and shoes, and more especially to those of the so-called cushion type employing a rubber compound or composition as a constituent thereof. The object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved heel of this type, which possesses increased wear resisting properties and which produces an anti-slipping or nonskid surface on its tread which will remain effective during the wear o'f the heel, it possesses the desired degree of resilience or elasticity and it is capable of being easily, quickly and securely fastened to the shoe by nails or equivalent fastening devices, which may be driven at the usual or any other desired points in the heel and will effectively prevent loosening of the heel or pulling of the nail heads through the heel.

The invention has the important practical advantages that it enables layers of friction fabric or fabric with interposed layers or coatings of rubber, and especially such material as reclaimed from old or discarded pneumatic tire casings to be used largely in the making of the heels, the fabric being so dis'- posed in the heel as to produce the wear-resisting and anti-slipping properties referred to, the resilience or elasticity of the vrubber layers or coatings between the plies of fabric, in conjunction with the resilience or elasticity of the body of the heel, which is preferably composed of a suitable rubber compound in molded form, affording the desired degree of resilience or elasticity for the heel, as hereinbefore referred to.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements, which will be hereinafter more fully described, the features of novelty being pointed out partielllarly in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 represents a section taken vertically through a portion of a shoe and the heel thereon, the heel being constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure' 2 represents a transverse section.

'nary leather heel.

through the shoe and heel on the line 2 2 of Figure 1; l 1

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the heel as shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the heel as viewed from its upper side;

Figure 5 represents a longitudinal section taken through the rear portion of a shoe and the heel thereon, showin a half heel constructed in accordance with the present invention; I

Figure 6 represents a transverse section through the shoe and heel on the line 6 6 of Figure 5; I

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the half heel as shown in Figures 5 and 6 and viewed from its upper side; and

Figure 8 represents a transverse section through a heel' made in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. i

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the several figures.

Heels or half heels embodying the present invention are lsuitable for use generally on boots and shoes-as a substitute for the ordi- The preferred embodiment of the invention as applied to a Whole heel and also a half heel, is shown in the accompanying drawing and will be hereinafter described in detail. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not restricted to the precise construction shown, as equivalent constructions are contemplated and these will be included within the scope of the claims.

In the present instance, wherein the improved heel is shown applied to a shoe, 1 represents a portion of the upper of the shoe and 2 the sole. The whole heel shown in Figures 1 to et inclusive, comprises a body 3 which is' composed preferably of a rubber compound possessing the desired degree of resilience or elasticity, the body being molded in the desired form and cured. The body of the heel, according to the present invention, contains a number of plies -1 of fabric, such as canvas, impregnated with rubber or rubbel' cement. or having thin layers or coatings of rubber interposed between them, these layers of fabricv in the finished heel being vulcanized together and embedded in the heel between the top and the tread 5 thereof. Preferably. the fabric layers or plies 4 are composed of friction fabric or fabric stock, such as that employed in the manufacture of casings of pneumatic tires, it being most advantageous to employ fabric obtained from old or discarded pneumatic tire casings, as the fabric can thus be obtained not only inexpensively, but the plies of fabric will be found firmly vulcanized together by the interposed layers or coatings of rubber. Y The body composed of the superposed fabric plies 4 is preferably of such a size and shape that its margin lies within the marginal edges of the heel and the marginal portions of the body composed of the fabric plies4, preferably lies in a plane parallel to the tread 5, or substantially so,while the middle or intermediate portion of this body is bent or deflected downw-ardly to form a depressed portion 6. The depressed portion 6 of the fabric body is referabl formed with a perforation 7, an the mo d in which the heel is formed is preferably so shaped that the plastic rubber compound which is to form the body 3 of the heel,when compressed 1n the mold, will cover the upper and lower sides of the marginal edges of the fabric body, and a portion of the rubber compound will be forced or extruded upwardly through the perforation 7 in the fabric body and will form a stud or nipple 8 surrounded by a concavity 9, the. concavity 9. lying beneath a chamber 1 0 which is open at the upper side of the heel. Preferablya plu 11 of fabric which is punched from the bo y in forming the perforation 7 thereinis placed in the body of the mold in alinement with the perforation'7 and the stud or nipple 8, so that in the finished heel Athe fabric plug 11 will be exposed or nearly exposed on theV lower or tread side of the heel. Bosses 12 are also referably molded on the lower or tread surace of the heel to provide a roughened or anti-skid surface, these bosses being preferably in the form of rosettes, as shown in Figure 3', around holes 13 which may be formed in the body of the heel below the fabric portion to receive thenails 14, or other devices for' fastenin the heel to the shoe. tening the eel to the shoe, the nails, or

equivalent fastening devices, are inserted through the openings 13 and driven upwardly through the fabric body and' into the sole 2, nails, when used, bei'ng usually clenched at the upper side of the sole. These nails are driven until the heads thereof come up against the under side of the fabric body, the latter. then providing a securing means for the heel which will effectualy withstand pulling of the nail heads therethrough. Y

A heel constructed in the manner described can not only be easily, quickly and firmly secured to the shoe, but the fabric body contained within the heel provides a wear-resisting and non-skdsurface on the tread of the heel, after the latter ,has `been worn awayto someextent, it being ffobvious that the depressed intermediate portion 6 of the fabric body will become exposed at the tread vof the In -fasheel, after the later has been worn to some extent, and owing to the inclination of this depressed portion 7 of the fabric relativel to the plane of the treadsurface of the hee the fibres or threads comprising the fabric plies will be presented substantialy or approximately endwise to the tread surface, thus insuring maximum wear-resisting properties. The marginal portions of the fabric body and through which the nails or other securing devicespass, are located at a greater distance from the tread surface of the heel and, in consequence, the intermediate depressed portionA 6 of the fabric body will become exposed at the tread surface, while the marginal portions of the fabric body and the heads of the securing nails remain covered. When, as is preferable, the fabric plug 11 is employed, this plug will provide this portion of the heel, and when the heel is -nea-rly worn out, the center thereof has a greater cushion effect than it has when the heel is new, but notwithstanding the consequent reduction in the thickness of. this part of the heel, such part of vthe heel is suf- -ficiently reinforced by the depressed portion 6 of the fabric body. The upwardly projecting nipple 8 also serves as a stop to limit the upward flexing of the middle of the heel,

should the wearer step upon a pebble or other sharp or raised surface, thus avoiding breakage or other damage to the heel. It will be understood that While the securing. nails may be driven through the nail-receiving holes 13,

. which may be located in a definite position so that all of these nails may b e driven simultaneously, other or additional securing nails may be` driven, if desired, at any other points, the fabric bod 4 being readily puncturable by the nails, althou h itis capable of leffectually preventing pu ling of the nail heads therethrough.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 5 to 7 inclusive, is shown a half heel 14 which may be used when desired it being shown secured to the underside of the heel lifts 15 after a suitable number of heelv lifts have been removed. ln this instance, the heel is composed of a body of rubber compound molded in the desired shape and having a fabric body 4'* corresponding si1b stantially to the fabric body 4, described above. In this instance, however, the upper ist side of the fabric body 4a may be exposed at the top of the heel so as to lie directly against the lowermost heel lift of the shoe, and the central depressed portion 6aL of the fabric body may be inclined at a greater angle to the plane of the t-read of the heel, as shown. The stud or nipple 8 which protrudes upwardly through the central perforation "ia in the fabric body, preferably lies closely adjacent to the underside of the lowermost heel lift, vso that this nipple will bear against the heel lift and thus avoid undue strain or upward deflection of the central portion of the heel, should the latter be brought to bear upon a pebble or other sharpor upstanding projection at the center of the heel. The depressed'portion 6'1 of the fabric body provides a concavity 9a which `surrounds the nipple 8a, thus affording increased resilience or elasticity for the center of the heel, although this portion of the heel which is, in consequence, of reduced thickness, is reinforced by the fabric body. The nails leta or equivalent devices which secure the heel to the shoe, may be driven in the same manner as described in connection with t-he nails 14.

Instead of initially forming the bottom or tread of the whole heel or half heel flat,

the central portionthereof may be crowned` or bowed downwardly as shown at 16 in Figure 8, this crowned or downwardlybowed portion preferably extending at its apex to the plane in which lie the embossed rosettes surrounding the nail-holes, it being understood that this crowned portion of the heel lies immediately below and in line with the downwardly deflected portion of the fabric body` the cavity and the nipple. By this construction7 the heel throughout its period of wear, possesses the desired degree of cushioning action and moreover.l wearing away of the treadof the heel is resisted or retarded.

In each instance` it is to be understood that the rubber compound composing the body of the heel is molded while the fabric body is in place, the entire structure being then cured, as a result of which the fabric body and the rubber composition body of the heel are securely vulcanized together.

By providing a rubber heel with a fabric body such as herein described, a wear-resisting and anti-slipping surface becomes exposed at the tread of the heel as the latter becomes Worn, and even though the heel may wear to a considerable extent, the exposed portion remains firmly secured within the heel by the marginal portion of the fabric body which remains unexposed and fastened by the nails or fastening devices. Also, while the center of the heel is rendered more resilient or elastic. owing to the reduction in thickness thereof. this portion of the heel is reinforced by the central or depressed vportion of the fabric body which acts as a supporting arch. By dispensing with the use of washers to secure the nail heads, important practical advantages are obtained, as the fastening nails may be driven at any desired points, there is no danger of spoiling the heel during the operation of driving the nails, and moreover, the objections resulting from the exposure of such washers as the heel becomes worn, are avoided, it being a well known fact that when the washers of ordinary heels become uncovered by wear, the cushion effect is entirely lost or destroyed.

I claim as my invention 1. A heel for bootsY or shoes comprising a body composed of flexible material forming a substantially flat tread, a yieldable body composed of multiple plies of fabric having a portion within the margin thereof offset relatively to its marginal portions and toward the tread and forming a cavity above it, said offset poirtion providing an upwardly yieldable cushion and constituting a wear-resisting medium adapted to become exposed at the tread by wear of the latter prior to the exposure of the marginal portions of said fabric body.

2. A heel for boots or shoes comprising Aa body composed of flexible material forming a substantially fiat tread, and a body composed of multiple plies of fabric hav-v ing rubber incorporated therewith,.the marginal portion of said;y body being punctural ble by nails and forming means for fsecuring the heel to a boot or shoe and the portion of said fabric body within the marginal portionbeing relatively offset toward the tread to form an upwardly yieldable cushion and to provide a wear-resisting medium which will become exposed at the tread by wear ofthe latter prior to the exposure of the marginal portion of said fabric body.

3. A heel for boots or shoes comprising a molded rubber body having a tread, the marginal` portion of which is substantially flat and a multiple-ply fabric body vulcanized thereto, the intermediate portion of` the fabric body being depressed toward the tread of the heel and having a cavity formed above such depressed portion.

4. A heel for boots and shoes comprising a rubber body having a tread, the marginal portion of which is substantially atand a multiple-ply fabric body vulcanized thereto, the marginal portion of the fabric body lying substantially in parallelism with the relatively fiat marginal portion of the tread of the heel and providing a fastening means therefor and the intermediate portion of the fabric body being depressed relatively to its marginal portion toward the tread and having a cavity located above it.

5. A heel of the character described comprising a rubber body molded into the prising a rubber body having a substantially fiat tread and a fabric body vulcanized thereto and having a perforation through which a portion of the rubber body extrudes and forms an upwardly-projecting ni ple- Ato act as a stop to limit the upward disp acement of the perforated portion of the fabs ric body and the adjacent' portion of the rubber body.

7. A heel of the character described comprising a rubber-'body having a substantially flat tread and a fabric body vulcanized thereto'and having an intermediate depressedportion provided with a perfora- .tion through which a part of the rubber body protrudes upwardly to form a nipple,

the latter being surrounded above the delng pressed portion of the fabric body by a cavit v 8. A heel of the character described comprisi a body of vulcanizable material moldrdd into the form of a heel having a substantially vplane tread, and a fabric body vulcanized thereto, the fabric body having marginal nail-receiving portions lying substantially in parallelismwith the tread of the heel and having. an intermediate portion depressed toward the tread and having a cavity above it.

9. A heel of the character described comprisin a bodyof vulcanizable material molded into the form of a heel having a substantially fiat tread, and a fabric body vulcanized thereto, the fabric body having marginal nail-receiving portions and an intermediate portion depressed toward the tread relatively to said marginal portions and provided with a perforation through which part of the said vulcanizablevmaterial projects upwardly to' form a nipple, said nipple being surrounded above said fabric body by a cavity.

10. A heel for boots or shoes comprising a body of vulcanizable material forming a substantiall fiat tread surface and a fabric body vulizanized thereto and having a portion thereof depressedltoward the tread surface and provided with a perforation, and a fabric plug embedded in the tread surface opposite to-the perforation inthe fabric body.

11. A heel for boots and shoes comprising a body com osed' of vulcanizable ma terial and a fabrlc body vulcanized thereto, said vulcanized body having a cavity in its upper side and the fabric body having a portion below said cavity depressed toward the tread of the heel, said depressed portion of the fabric body having a perforation, and a plug of wear-resisting material embedded il'i the tread below and opposite to said perforation and cavity. l 12. A heel for boots and shoes comprisa body com osed of vulcanizable material and a fabric body vulcanized thereto. said vulcanizable body having a cavity therein and the fabric body having a portion thereof below said cavity depressed toward the tread and provided with a perforation, a ortionof the material composing the vu oanizable body extending upwardlj7 through said perforation and forming a ni ple which projects into said cavity, and a abric plug embedded in the tread of the heel and below and opposite to said perforation, nipple and cavity.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES E.- GROSJ EAN.

Witnesses:

I. GREEN, MARGARET WARNAMENT. 

